18 Tracks

Well, her brains they rattle and her bones they shake,
Oh! she's a angel from the inner lake
Her brains they rattle and her bones they shake,
Oh! she's a angel from the inner lake

Band: bruce:
Her brains they rattle and don't dance with her elway
Her bones they shake, don't dance with jake
All:
Oh! she's a angel from the inner lake

Her brains they rattle and she give me all the lovin'
Her bones they shake, that a good man can take
Oh! she's a angel from the inner lake

Sha na na na na-ah o-oh
Sha na na na na-ah o-oh
Sha na na na na-ah o-oh
Sha na na na na-ah o-oh
Thundercrack!
Baby's back
This time she'll tell me how she really feels
And bring me down to her lightning shack
You can watch my partner reeling
She moves up! she moves back!
Out on the floor there ain't nobody cleaner
She does this thing she calls the "jump back jack"
She's got the heart of a ballerina

Straight from the bronx, hung on the line.
She slips she slides she slops she bops, she bumps, she grinds
Even them dance hall hacks from the west side of the tracks
Move in close to catch her timing
She moves up! she moves back!
Out on the floor there ain't nobody cleaner
She does this thing she calls the "jump back jack"
She's got the heart of a ballerina

She ain't no little girl, she ain't got no curls
And in her brown little eyes an image
Round and round and round and round and round...
She whirls

My heart's wood, she's a carpenter
She's an angel in the night what she does is all right.
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
'til the dawn!
Oh 'til the dawn

Thundercrack!
Baby's back
This time she'll tell me how she really feels
And bring me down to her lightning shack
You can watch my partner reeling
She moves up! she moves back!
Out on the floor there ain't nobody cleaner
She does this thing she calls the "jump back jack"
She's got the heart of a ballerina

She has parents! she has religion! she has sisters!
Round and round and round and round and round...
She whirls
My heart's wood, she's a carpenter
She's an angel in the night what she does is all right.
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
Dance with me partner
All night (repeat)

I woke up last night shaking from a dream
For in that dream i died
My wife rolled over and told me
That my life would be immortalized
Not in some major motion picture
Or great american novel, you see
No, they're gonna make a tv movie out of me

Chorus:
Well now, it's one two three you take the money
Yeah it's as easy as a b c
Yeah they're gonna make a tv movie out of me

Well they can change my name or they can leave it
They can change my story too
Or they can make me black or chinese
And do things that i never did do
They're gonna give my life a whole new ending
And put me in prime time first-run
And when it's over, what i did there will be what i done

Now i don't want my name in a history book
Nobody's ever gonna see
No, they're gonna make a tv movie out of me

(chorus)

Well i'm a shoe-in for a sponsor
Goodyear blimp and radial wheels
Somebody had a meeting somewhere
Somehow somebody made a deal
Well i was one of them kinds of stories
That everybody liked to see
Yeah they're gonna make a tv movie out of me
Now i don't want no inscription on my gravestone
No long soliloquy
No they're gonna make a tv movie out of me

(chorus)

Midnight boys are outside
Scrapin' tears up off the street
Standing guard over the window
Where the lonely linda sleeps
There's a kid named eddie
Walks like an angel in defeat
The ashes of a romance come
Traces linda's name in a seat

Calls
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you, hey let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one

In a room full of contenders
Shadow boxin', eddie's strong
Till he drops through a feigned surrender
To the canvas draped in scarves
Stole from linda's bedroom
The night he laid at her feet
And the midnight boys were wasted
Down on king street

He calls out
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you, hey let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one

Midnight's base is st mary's
Midnight boys hide from the rain
Stay with the stolen sisters
Till the streets are dry again
Talking fast cars and chrome parts
Different worlds and strange girls
Empty homes, busted hearts
And kneeling with linda in the dark

Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you, hey let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one

Well he'd been hearing too many voices and feelin' a little off-track
Like there was something big pressing down on his back
So he called up his friends and they said come on out west
It's a place where a man can really feel his success

So he pulled his heart and soul down off the shelf
Packed them next to the faith that he'd lost in himself
Said his good-byes and when the dirty work was done
He turned his wheels into the fading sun

For seven days and nights like a black-top bird he sped
Maintained radio silence 'cept for in his head
And just like his folks did back in '69
He crossed the border at needles and heard the promised land on the line

Now where the transcontinental dumps into the sea
There's a bar made up to look like 1963
Girl in the corner eyed him like a hungry dog a bone
As he brushed the desert dust off that mercedes chrome
Bartender said "hey, how's it hangin', tiger?"
He had a shot of tequila, smiled and whispered "lighter"

He went down to the desert city where the rattlesnakes play
And left his dead skin by the roadside in the noon of day
Sun got so hot it almost felt like friend
It could burn out every trace of where you been

There was a woman he'd met in a desert song
A little while later a son come along
Looked at that boy's smile and called it home
And that night as he lay in bed the only voice he heard was his own

Two kids get married, same old thing
Folks congratulate you, church bells ring
Who's got the ring, who's gonna pay the priest
Get your name in the paper, picture or two at least

And at the reception all the old records play
"where you gonna live, are you gonna take her away?"
In a corner my new nephew's showin' me his knife
You swore that you'd love her for the rest of your life

Went to kiss you at the altar we bumped heads
Honeymoon night we figured we best shake on it instead
Dressed kinda funny, laughin' we hop in bed
You can wear it on your feet, you can wear it on your head

Come mornin' my new family's sitting on the front porch swing
Smilin' kinda funny, nobody says a thing
My new brother-in-law's throwin' a football, he tosses me a pass
We all sit down on the front stoop, everybody happy at last

Dark weekends in the sun, out on chelsea row
Descending the stairs, frankie my love
Check your make-up in the mirror
Come on, baby, let's go
We'll dance round this dirty town
'till the night is all done
Then all the finer things sleep alone tonight
Then all the minor kings lose their thrones tonight
Don't worry about me baby, i'll be alright

There's machines and there's fire
On the outside of town
Young boys for hire
Waiting to blow us all down
There are strange flashes in the sky up above
I'll spend the night at the movies
With my secret love
At dusk the stars all appear on the screen
Just like they do each night in my dreams
But tonight's no dream, frankie
I can feel myself move
Living and dying
Like i was born to do

Walk softly tonight little angel
I wanna be alone with you
Talk softly to me tonight angel
Make all my dream-world come true

I remember standing in the freezing rain
Reading them "want" ads out on chelsea row
Winging down the street in search of new games
Hustling through the night packs where the actors go
Frankie they are crazy, let's run and hide

In the darkness there'll be hidden worlds that shine
When all of the glory in this desperate land
Will rise like raindrops in the palm of our hands
Rise like the rain
Let your sadness rise
Walk softly tonight little angel
Into the shadows where the lovers go
Talk softly tonight angel
Whisper your secrets so soft and low

Runnin' down the highway half-past eleven
Waitin' for my odometer to roll straight sevens
I'm a lucky man
I went to see the gypsy the other night
She looked in my palm, looked me in the eye
And said "you're a lucky man"

"some folks got fortune, some got eyes of blue
What you got will always see you through
You're a lucky man"
Pa went from the army to the factory to the killin' yard
I make my living with my hands 'hind the wheel of this car
I'm a lucky man

Messin' with me, man, it wouldn't be wise
Roll them dice, son . . . snake eyes
I'm a lucky man

Had a girl in calgary, i gave her up
Man, that love thing was messin' with my luck
And i'm a lucky man
I'll wake up tomorrow morning in another state
Kiss me now, baby, before it's too late
If you wanna kiss a lucky man
I don't miss no girl, i don't miss no home
He travels fastest who travels alone
He's a lucky man
A man with the world in the palm of his hands

Bishop danced with a thumbscrew woman
Did a double-quick back-flip and slid across the floor
The catholic traffic flowed freely across the river
And fiddlestick fiddled quick out the front door
Baby dumpling, mama's in the back tree
If the bough breaks mama might fall
Little sad and only, baby don't be lonely
Mama knows 'rithmetic, knows how to take a fall
Mama knows 'rithmetic, knows how to take a fall
And the kids are crying
Flapjacks, make'em fat, early in the morning
Little jack, grab your hat
Hear the breakfast call
Muskrat, bad old cat, kick him in the fireplace
There's someone in the kitchen blowing dinah on their
Horn
There's someone in the kitchen blowing dinah like they're
Born

Maverick daddy got one-night prize
The glides like a monkey-mule kickin' on the backslide
Over hill, over hill, daddy don't you spill now
Papa got a switch-stick, he's pumping little bill
Papa got a switch-stick, he's pumping little bill
And bill, he's crying
Tomahawk, tomahawk, daddy better duck out
The mohawks, the mohawks, they're still out there in the woods
Molatar, okenah, running through my dreams now

With fire on their fingertips and injun's screams
Fire on their fingertips and feathers made of moonbeams
Early in the morning the cannoneer cried
I seem the sailor's warning in the western sky
Oh mountain man, if you can, cut me down a fir tree
Branches full of candlesticks for baby and me
And my darling cried, she said, honey, the weather vane
Lately it's been pointin' the way to heaven
Scatterbrains, scatterbrains, watch out where you fall champagne, champagne,
A round for all the old choirboys
They're bustin' off the altar chasing
Dinah through the hall
They're bustin' off the altar chasing
Dinah through the hall

And like kids they're crying
Flapjacks, make 'em fat, early in the morning
Little jack, grab your hat
Hear the breakfast call
Muskrat, bad old cat, kick him in the fireplace
There's someone in the kitchen blowing
Dinah on their horn
There's someone in the kitchen blowing
Dinah like they're born.

The skulls met the pythons
Down at the first street station
Alliance has been made in alleyways
All across the nation
These boys live off the milk of a silver jet
And the love of sweet young women
The pythons are down from old englishtown
And they 're looking to do some living

Well the leader of the pythons
Is a kid they just call zero
Now terry's pop says these kids
Are some kind of monsters
But terry says "no, pop
They're just plain heroes"

Zero and terry had found a love
That burned like wild fire
Now terry's dad understood
That this zero was no good
A tramp, a thief and a liar

Well from out of the darkness
That breaks the dawn
Zero rode like twilight
He said "tonight's the night
Blind terry come on
Terry come on
Tonight is the night
Pack your bags baby"

And together they ran like reindeers
Through the streets
Well like tomorrow the earth
Is gonna catch on fire

Now terry's dad hired some troopers
To kill zero and bring terry back home
They caught up in the night, like firelightthem starlight troopers....
Zero marches through terry's field
They met the pythons down on route nine
But they refused to yield
Now the pythons fought with blazed guns
And the troopers with swords of light
And zero and terry they ran away
And the gang fought all through the night

Now some folks say
Zero and terry got away
Other said they were caught and brought back
Ah, still young pilgrims to this day
Go to that spot way down by the railroad tracks
Where the troopers met the pythons
Old timers cry on a hot august night
If you look hard enough, if you try
You'll see zero and terry and all the pythons
Just hiking them streets up in the sky.

Sleepy town ain't got the guts to budge
Baby, this emptiness has already been judged
I wanna go out tonight, i wanna find out what i got

You're a strange part of me, you're a preacher's girl
And i don't want no piece of this mechanical world
Got my arms open wide and my blood is runnin' hot

We'll take the midnight road right to the devil's door
And even the white angels of eden with their flamin' swords
Won't be able to stop us from hittin' town in this dirty old ford

Well it don't take no nerve when you got nothin to guard
I got tombstones in my eyes and i'm runnin' real hard
My baby was a lover and the world just blew her away

Once they tried to steal my heart, beat it right outta my head
But baby they didn't know that i was born dead
I am the iceman, fightin' for the right to live
I say better than the glory roads of heaven, better off ridin'
Hellbound in the dirt, better than the bright lines of the freeway
Better than the shadows of your daddy's church
Better than the waiting, baby better off is the search

You broke my heart, tore it apart
Thought it was cute, thought it was smart
But now i'm back and i've got the strength of ten
So i got a message for you my friend

Chorus:
I'm daniel waitin' in the lion's den
Daniel waitin' for that lion to come
Daniel waitin' in the lion's den
Dum dum dee dum dum dee dee dum dum

That old lion's mean and long in the tooth
And like you, baby, he's out on the loose
Messin' hearts up time and time again
Well it's time for that messin' to end

(chorus)

At night i hear you out prowling around
Tearing guys up, scaring 'em down
Now all that growling's gonna come to no end
'cause i m just biding my time, my little friend

(chorus)

In the fields of the lord
Stood abel and cain
Cain slew abel 'neath the black rain
At night he couldn't stand the guilt or the blame
So he gave it a name
So he gave it a name
So he gave it a name

Billy got drunk, angry at his wife
He hit her once, he hit her twice
At night he'd lie in bed, he couldn't stand the shame
So he gave it a name
So he gave it a name
So he gave it a name

Pa told me "son, one thing i know is true
Poison snake bites you, you're poison too"*
At night i can feel that poison runnin' 'round my veins

Well my name is catherine lefevre
I work at the astrowash on sunset and vine
I drop my kids at school in the morning
And i pick them up at mary's just 'fore suppertime

Chorus:
Well i work down at the car wash
For a dollar and a dime
And mister, i hate my boss
It's at the car wash i'm doing my time
Pick up my water bottle and my towel, sir
And i take 'em one by one
From mercedes to vws
I do 'em all and i don't favor none

(chorus)

Well someday i'll sing in a night club
I'll get a million-dollar break
A handsome man will come here with a contract in his hand
And say "catherine, this has all been some mistake"

(chorus)

Well you say you have a friend
You trust him with your life
You trust him with your car, you trust him with your kids
You even trust him with your wife

You better watch what's going down when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain't nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town

Well now the world is dark and funny
You better listen to what i say
You ain't gonna know what's going on
By what you see in the light of day

You better watch what's going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain't nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town

Well now baby she trusted billy
With reason you understand
But billy he kept coming home late at night
And in the morning he had that smell on his hand

Well now the world is turning
Rome is burning
Me i'm watching
And i'm learning
They say it sure is god's hand in the ticking of the clock
The lord's light shining under every dirty rock

Well now last night i slept right here
And i heard god's voice whisper in my ear

You better watch what's going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain't nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town

Your scrapbook's filled with pictures
Of all your leading men
Well baby don't me picture in there with them
Don't make me some little girl's dream
That can never come true
Oh baby, don't do it to me
I won't do it to you

Mary lou, i'm not like all those other guys
Mary lou, i won't fill pretty head with their pretty lies
Mary lou, and dreams that never, never, never ever will
Come true
Mary lou, i don't deserve to hurt and make you cry like
You do

You seen all the romantic movies
You dream to take the boys home
But when the action fades you're left all alone
You deserve more than this, oh your love that can grow
And not playing outtakes, girl, from some late-late show,
No no
Mary lou, you're not like all those others girls
Mary lou, so afraid to shake up that real world

Every night you go out lookin' for
True love's satisfaction
But you'll end up setting for just lights, camera, action
In another cameo role with some bit-player you befriended
You're gonna go broken-hearted
Lookin' for that happy ending

Mary lou, i know all those movies too
Mary lou, now one wants the dreams, baby, more than i do
But mary lou, you're gonna end up
Baby just another ticket stub
Mary lou, cryin' alone in the theatre
As the credits roll

Well, jimmy lee was hookin' 'round the fan turn
Of a funky southern florida dirt track.
He had mud caked on his goggles and a screamin' three fifty
Stacked up on his back.
Well, as he passed the stands, he feeling all tuckered out,
When through the roar of his engine he heard somebody shout.
"stand on it. come on, boy, stand on it."

Mary beth started to shift, she hit the shift,
But she just couldn't get a hand on it.
She was racin' some red hill boys; she had the deed to the ranch
And a grand on it.
With eight grand blowin' hot on the red line,
She blew past a hitchhiker out on route 39. he hollered,
"stand on it. come on, baby, stand on it."

(chorus)
Well, now when in doubt and you can't figure it out,
Just stand on it.
Well, if your mind's confused; you don't know what you're gonna do,
Well buddy, stand on it!
Well, if you've lost control of the situation at hand,
Go grab a girl; go see a rock 'n roll band,
And stand on it.
Come on, man, stand on it!

Well now, columbus, he discovered america
Even though he hadn't planned on it.
He got lost and woke up one morning
When he's about to land on it.
He wouldn't have got out of italy, man, that's for sure,
Without queen isabella standing on the shore shouting,
"stand on it! go ahead, man, stand on it."

(repeat chorus)

>from a tin roof top
The little boy did watch
The procession down through town
Through the museum
Where daniel walked with the devil
With them boys from the underground
Where the giants of science
Fight for tight control
Over the wild lands of new mexico
Sam houston's ghost's in texas
Fighting for his soul
And the town folks rest uneasy
Beneath the guns of kid cole
And the kid says: "hey, where's santa ana
He who could romance the dumb into talking
Take a chance with me tonight my contessa,
If it don't work out, i ain't lame, i can walk"

Now some folks they just can't take it
To the streets of this town
But sam easily can, and he lays his money down
Them cats in from the canyon
Strut their stuff in town
But there's only secret sinners here
Lord, there's only secret thieves
Only a fool would try to save
What the desert chose to leave
And now, hey there senorita,
With your playboys in their spanish bandanas
French cream won't soften them bullets baby
French kisses will not break your heart

Oh, painted night, set free with light
Glows outside the rainbow saloon
Match embraces with a spanish lady
Beneath a graduation moon
No more colleges, no more coronations
Some punk's idea of a teenage nation
Has forced santa ana to change his stationfrom soldier to cartoon
And the giants of science
Spend their days and nights
Not with wives, not with lovers
But searching for the lights
They started in the desert on their helicopter flights
Just to be lost in the dust and the night

Ah, hey my contessa
In your juke joint rides
You always bring candy for the kids
Come waltz with me tonight senorita
'cause only fools are alone on a night like this

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick i took was when i hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the u.s.a., i was born in the u.s.a.
I was born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the u.s..a....

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said "son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my v.a. man
He said "son, don't you understand"

I had a brother at khe sahn
Fighting off the viet cong
They're still there, he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go

Born in the u.s.a., i was born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., i'm a long gone daddy in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., i'm a cool rocking daddy in the u.s.a.

Early north jersey industrial skyline
I'm an all-set cobra jet creepin' through the night time
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a pay phone
This turnpike sure is spooky at night when you're all alone
I'm living on the edge of the world
Tryin' to get my girl on the line
Livin' on the edge of the world
But i think it's just a waste of my time
Some jerk keeps breaking my connection, girl
'cause i'm living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world

Radio, radio, hear my tale of heartbreak
New jersey in the morning like a lunar landscape
Got a counter girl at the exit 24 hojo
Down past the refinery towers where the great black river flows
I'm living on the edge of the world
Tryin' to get back to you, girl
Living on the edge of the world
Tryin' to get a message through
I gotta make a connection, girl
Because i'm living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world

Radio's jammed with gospel stations
Lost souls callin' long distance salvation
Hey mister deejay gotta hear my last prayer
It's a hey ho rock and roll, deliver me from nowhere
I'm living on the edge of the world
Tryin' to get back to you, girl
Living on the edge of the world
Tryin' to get a message through
I gotta make some connection, girl
Because i'm living on the edge of the world
Living on the edge of the world

Now my boss don't dig me 'cause he put me on the night shift
It takes me two hours to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee wee hours my mind gets hazy
Relay towers, won't you lead me to my baby
'neath the overpass the trooper hits his party lights switch

Good night, good luck, one, two powershift

Here comes a lawyer,here comes a cop.
Here comes a rich, here comes a car-hop.
Goin' on forever, ain't ever gonna stop.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Well, name your gun, son, shoot your shot.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.

Now rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief.
Doctor, lawyer, indian chief.
Don't ever start to ask them why.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Well, name your gun, son, shoot your shot.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
All right (all right). oh yeah (oh yeah)
All right now (all right). oh yeah (oh yeah)

Man at the top says it's lonely up there.
If it is man, i don't care. build a big white house.
Build a parking lot. everybody wants to be the man at the
Top.

Here comes a banker, here comes a businessman.
Here comes a kid with a guitar in his hand.
Dreamin' of his record in number one spot.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Well, name your gun son, shoot your shot.
Everybody wants to be the man at the top.
Say right now (all right). say yeah now (oh yeah)
Say right...who's the man at the top?
Who's the man at the top, now?

Your scrapbook's filled with pictures of all your leading men
Well baby don't put my picture in there with them
Don't make us some little girls dream that can't ever come true
That only serves to hurt us and make you cry like you do
Well baby don't do it to me and i won't do it to you

You've seen all the romantic movies you dream you take the boys home
But when the action fades your left all alone
You deserve better than this little girl can't you see you do
Do you need somebody to prove it to you?

Well baby you prove it to me and i'll prove it to you.

Now every night you go out looking for true lust satisfaction
But in the morning you end up with second thoughts that came from your
Actions

And another cameo roll with some big player your befriending
Your gonna go broken hearted looking for that happy ending
Well girl your gonna end up just another lonely ticket sold
Crying alone in the theater as the credits roll

You see i won't be like those other guys
Who filled your head with pretty lies
And dreams that can never come true

Well listen
Baby you be true to me and i'll be true to you

So how about it?

Is it a deal?

It's one for the money, one for the show
I got one kiss for you honey so come on let's go
I didn't see it coming but girl now i know
It takes one for the running but two for the road

One thousand dreams whispered in the dark
But a dream's just a dream in one empty heart
It takes more than one to rev it up and go
So let's get it running, we're two for the road

Two one-way tickets and a diamond ring
Hell it don't matter what the rain might bring
When this world treats you hard and cold
I'll stand beside you, we're two for the road

When you're alone my love will shine the light
Through the dark and starless night
I'll hold you close and never let you go
Come on now honey, we're two for the road
I'll stand beside you and i'll never go
Come on now girl, we're two for the road

I walk along the levee to see the gypsy man
The dirt 'neath my feet baby's turnin' to quicksand
He looked into my palm, then looked me in the eye
And told me you were gone, gone over the rise

Once we stood together at the wishing well
Our wishes like dreams, baby, into the water fell
Oh then i kissed your lips but when i looked into your eyes
They were gone, gone over the rise

Tonight the blackbirds fly low on the water's edge
Oh we walked this path not knowing where it led
Now at the bottom of the river deep lies something shiny and golden
Is a promise that love couldn't keep same as a promise broken*

Well i woke last night to the sound of rain
The wind rustling branches against the window pane
I searched the pillow beside me for the tears we cried
Baby they were gone, gone over the rise

When we fight and i wanna talk it out
You won't say nothing, nothing at all
You just sit there, you won't open that pretty mouth
I think you like keeping my back up against the wall
Wages of sin, you keep me paying
Wages of sin for wrongs that i've done
Wages of sin, you keep me paying
Wages of sin, one by one

I walk in the apartment, there's clothes thrown all over the place
You're crouched in the corner with makeup running down your face
I don't wanna believe what my heart keeps saying
You keep me on the line so you can keep me paying
Wages of sin, we keep paying
Wages of sin for the wrongs that we've done
Wages of sin, we keep paying
Wages of sin, that's how we have our fun

I remember when i was a little boy out where the cottonwoods grow tall
Trying to make it home through the forest before the darkness falls
Baby all the sounds i heard, even if they weren't real
I was running down that broken path with the devil snapping at my heels
I tried so hard, so hard in every way
Swore someday i'd grow up, just throw it all away
Cried all the tears, baby, that i could cry
Stomached all my fears till they came rushin' up inside
Darlin' i'm losin' and it's a mean game
Still i play on and on just the same
Wages of sin, i keep paying
Wages of sin for some wrong that i've done
Wages of sin, well i keep paying
Wages of sin, one by one

You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face
And you try so hard to see
The way things were when we were at your place
Everyday was just you and me
And you cry because things ain't like before
Well, don't you know it can't be that way anymore
But don't worry baby
'cause i can't talk now, i'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'cause this is the last dance, the last chance
For hearts of stone

If there was something, baby,
That i could do,
Something that would last, honey, i would
But you should know better than to think that you
Can return to the past
So close your eyes and i'll be there
Hold you once more and not go anywhere
I wish i could babe
But i can't talk now, i'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'cause this is the last dance, the last chance
For hearts of stone

And you cry because things get so strange so fast
And you cry because nothing good ever lasts
Well, i know babe
But i can't talk now, i'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'cause this is the last dance, the last chance
For hearts of stone
I can't talk now, i'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'cause this is the last dance, the last chance
For hearts of stone

I stood stonelike at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and i walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said `sit down' i stood up
Ooh-ooh growin' up

The flag of piracy flew from my mast my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate she couldn't sail but she sure could sing
I pushed b-52 and bombed `em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules strafed my old high school never once gave thought to landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said `come down' i threw up
Ooh-ooh growin' up

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
I swear i lost everything i ever loved or feared i was the cosmic kid
Well my feet they finally took root in the earth but i got me a nice little place in the stars
I swear i found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said`sit down'i stood up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
Ooh-ooh growin' up

Cynthia, when you come walkin' by
You're an inspirin' sight
Cynthia, you don't smile or say "hi"
But baby that's alright
'cause i don't need to hold you
Or taste your kiss
I just like knowin' cynthia, you exist at all
In a world like this
Cynthia, when you pass it seems
Like this whole town drops
Cynthia, maybe it's just me babe
Some fool stuck here watchin' the clock
Well, you give us a reason to start whisper "why"
To stop singin', baby, and salute your style
Yeah cynthia

Well now you ain't the finest thing i'll never have
And when you go the hurt you leave
Well, baby, it ain't so bad
No it ain't cynthia
Yeah there ain't a man in this whole town
Who'll say you ain't fine
D'you hear them guys talkin'
Tell me, baby, do you mind
Well you make us happy, honey, when we feel sad
To see sump'n'so good, in a world gone bad
There's still cynthia, oh yeah

Cynthia, no one knows your number
No one knows where you live
Cynthia, i wonder do you understand
This strange thing you give
Yeah, well baby, is it your style
The mystery in your smile
Or just how cool you walk
In a world gone wild
Ah tell me if you will, cynthia
Well i gotta be pretty naive to believe in you
I know you ain't ever gonna be my dream come true
That's alright, i gotta dream
That's as good as you, cynthia
Oh now baby, this ain't no come-on
It's a walk on, walk on
Oh that's right, oh yeah
Mmmm, you make me holier
Yeah, yeah, alright
I said yeah, yeah, alright
Well she's a yeah, yeah, alright
I said yeah, yeah, alright
Well it's a yeah, yeah, alright
Well she's a yeah, yeah, alright
I said yeah, yeah, alright

Well look out mama, your little girl she has changed
She cut her baby curls and she's got her act rearranged
Well look out daddy, what she needs now she can't find at home
Oh ricky wants a man of her
She wants a man of her
Ricky wants a man of her own

Mama says her little girl won't talk to her anymore
She just goes in her room, turns on the radio, and shuts the door
She's got her own bathroom, tv, stereo, extension phone
Oh but mama, ricky wants a man of her she wants a man of her
Ricky wants a man of her own

Well daddy says when he drops her off friday night at the gym
She slides way down in the front seat so the kids won't see her with him
She don't do no work, she don't tell nobody when she's coming home
She makes poor daddy wait down on the corner at midnight all alone

She used to like me to take her to a ball game or a movie show
She used to make daddy take his little girl where she wanna go
Now we're left peeking through the curtains every time that we hear a horn blow
I guess ricky wants a man of her own

Well my folks say "son, talk to her, she'll listen to you"
Yeah, she listens real nice and she does what she wants to do
Daddy says she wears her jeans so tight, "well you change 'em or you're stayin' home"
Oh but daddy, ricky wants a man of her
She wants a man of her
Ricky wants a man of her own
She's almost grown
Ricky wants a man of her
She wants a man of her
Ricky wants a man of her own

Billy got out of prison but he wasn't right
Some like to drink or gamble, billy liked to fight
He tracked back to his home state of maryland
Went to his mom's mobile home where she took him in, alright

Chorus:
Rockaway the days, rockaway the nights
Gimme something to last me, baby, till the morning light
I ain't lookin' for trouble, i ain't looking for a fight
Honey rockaway these days, rockaway these nights

Well at a picnic one sunday billy met mary dove
Mary looked at billy, billy fell in love
Billy swore to mary he'd always love her so
They were married in the valley where the river flows, alright

(chorus)

At a roadside bar billy argued with a young man
And he settled that argument with a razor in his hand
With blood on his shirt back to mary he did run
She sighed "billy, oh billy, what have you done?"

He ran to his ma's trailer but the lights were dim
He pounded on the door, she wouldn't let him in
Up the road to a neighbor's house he drew near
They said "billy go away, we don't want no trouble 'round here"
Billy stole a car and headed out on the road
Pocketful of pills and his brain on overload
Seen some lights in his rearview mirror, panicked and gave her the gun
Wrapped himself 'round a telephone pole way out on 101

Well billy got cut out by the highway patrol
Just lay there with the cars passing on slow
Sheriff told billy's ma that billy died
She buried his body by the riverside, alright

(chorus)

Well rich man want the power and the seat on the top
Poor man want the money that the rich man got
Honey tonight i'm feeling so tired and unsure
Come on in mary, shut the light, close the door


(chorus)

0i ain't lookin' for just excitement
Baby that's just a fact
If you want to get to her heart
You better let her know just where you're at

Chorus:
It ain't written in the sky above
No fortune-teller told me this
You gotta tell her that you love her
Tell her that you need her
And give the girl a great big kiss
Give the girl a great big kiss
Now if you're such a fool you think
It don't matter, baby, what you say
Maybe you better tell her how you're feelin'
It ain't gonna happen any other way

(chorus)

Now baby all i wanna do
Is darlin' make sweet love to you

Now i don't know what the meanin' is
Why you wanna hide the things you feel and say
But baby it's just a natural fact
Love was never meant to be that way

(chorus)

Now baby all i wanna do
Is darlin' make sweet love to you

Well billy bought a chevy '40 coupe deluxe
Chrome wheels, stick shift
Give her gas, pop the clutch
Little girls on the corner
Like a diamond they shine
Someday billy i'm gonna make 'em all mine
Hey girl, you wanna ride in daddy's cadillac?
Because i love the way your long hair falls down your back

Bo diddley, bo diddley's at the seaside bar
We'll run barefoot in the sand, listen to his guitar
You say your mum's gonna meet you when the morning comes
And your papa's gonna beat you 'cause he knows you're out on the run
I'm gonna live a life of love and tonight you're the one

The highway is alive tonight
So baby do not be frightened
There's something 'bout a pretty girl on a sweet summer
Night
That gets this boy excited
Radio man finally understands and plays you something you can move to
You lay back easy ...
Your girl leans over and says
"daddy, can you turn that radio up any louder?"

Ah, the juke joint's humming
Everybody came down
Little willy and his soul boom putting all that stuff down
Well don't let that daylight steal your soul
Get in your wheels and roll, roll, roll, roll, roll

Mama's gonna meet you when the morning comes
And your daddy's gonna beat you 'cause he knows you're out on the run
But i don't care i'm gonna live and laugh and love while the night's still
Young

I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra
I was born blue and weathered but i burst just like a supernova
I could walk like brando right into the sun
Then dance just like a casanova
With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet
Silver star studs on my duds like a harley in heat
When i strut down the street i could feel its heartbeat
The sisters fell back and said "don't that man look pretty"
The cripple on the corner cried out "nickels for your pity"
Them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

I was the king of the alley i could talk some trash
I was the prince of the paupers crowned downtown at the beggar's bash
I was the pimp's main prophet i kept everything cool
A backstreet gambler with the luck to lose
And when the heat came down it was left on the ground
The devil appeared like jesus through the steam in the street
Showin' me a hand i knew even the cops couldn't beat
I felt his hot breath on my neck as i dove into the heat
It's so hard to be a saint when you're just a boy

And the sages of the subway sit just like the living dead
As the tracks clack out the rhythm their eyes fixed straight ahead
They ride the line of balance and hold on by just a thread
But it's too hot in these tunnels you can get hit up by the heat
You get up to get out at your next stop but they push you back down in your seat
Your heart starts beatin' faster as you struggle to your feet
Then you're outa that hole and back up on the street
And them south side sisters sure look pretty
The cripple on the corner cries out "nickels for your pity"
And them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

So let the frozen sands crumble, crumble and fall
Yeah that's all right, i don't mind at all
Well let it all tumble right into the sea
Yeah that's all right, that's fine with me
Since you came down the line
I don't sleep at night
I got one thing on my mind
And so every day, every night
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
That's what i wanna do
'cause you're so out of sight
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
That's what i wanna do

Well i lost my job at the texaco station
Instead of pumpin' gas i dreamed of you
I got thrown out of my house
I got such a bad reputation
'cause all i wanna do is be seen with you

They gave me my pay and said walk
I don't care what they say
Go ahead and let 'em all talk
Until the world falls apart
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
That's what i wanna do
Until they rip out my heart
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
That's what i wanna do

Bedtime, hold tight, love me just a little bit
All night, a little bit more
Tonight, tonight ...
Oh i don't know, i don't know
I don't understand ityou ain't pretty at all
But i come when you whisper
I run when you call
And baby i can't stand it
And baby that's all
Ridin' by your side in my car
Oh, oh i wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
Darlin' don't you know
Oh, oh i wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
Because i love you so